1. Magnetic therapy works where pills fail in major
depression
MUMBAI: Six months ago, south Mumbai-
based executive Ramesh Joshi's behaviour
started worrying his family. He would take two
hours to finish a meal. While walking, he would
suddenly freeze at a spot. He would stammer if
he had to speak more than a couple of lines. The
medical diagnosis — major depressive disorder
— stunned his family.
Reference By Shamsah B Sonawalla
See More - http://www.transmagclinic.com

2. Magnetic therapy works where pills fail in major
depression
They were even more shocked when nine anti-
depressants a day failed to help him. Finally,
they sought rTMS or repetitive transcranial
magnetic stimulation, the newest entrant in the
field of depression treatment in the city. Over
three weeks and 20 sessions of magnetic
stimulation later, his sluggishness and
diffidence almost disappeared. His daily dosage
of anti-depressants was down to two. Today, the
35-year-old is back at work and speaks clearly.
"I could feel my family's shock as I took one
spoonful of food every 10 minutes, but I couldn't
help it,'' he said.
Reference By Shamsah B Sonawalla
See More - http://www.transmagclinic.com

3. Magnetic therapy works where pills fail in major
depression
Joshi's psychiatrist, Dr Shamsah Sonawalla,
who studied rTMS during her stint in Harvard
University, says the non-invasive therapy helped
transform him in the shortest possible time.
Sonawalla said, "While taking down Joshi's
medical history, we realized he was battling mild
depression perhaps for seven to eight years. This
time, he experienced psychomotor retardation
(when speech and action slow down)." But TMS
transformed him in the shortest possible time,
she added.
Reference By Shamsah B Sonawalla
See More - http://www.transmagclinic.com

4. Magnetic therapy works where pills fail in major
depression
Magnetic therapy made its debut in the city
almost two years ago, but its clinical efficacy
among Indian patients in only now getting
established. Sonawalla has treated 65 people
with major depression using the technique at
her Trans Mag Well-Being Clinic on Peddar
Road. "Of these, 28 had treatment-resistant
depression, 37 had moderate to severe major
depression," she said. Each patient responded to
the waves, but in different measures. Those who
were resistant to medical treatment showed
about 60% response, while persons with
moderate to severe depression registered 90%
improvement.
Reference By Shamsah B Sonawalla
See More - http://www.transmagclinic.com

5. Magnetic therapy works where pills fail in major depression
The therapy, which won the US FDA approval in
2008, involves using magnetic field externally to
stimulate nerve cells in the brain. "An
electromagnetic coil is placed on the scalp at a
predetermined site. The rTMS device then
delivers focused magnetic pulses to the brain,"
said Sonawalla, who also consults at Jaslok
Hospital. The 20-minute sessions are typically
held daily for 2 to 4 weeks.
Reference By Shamsah B Sonawalla
See More - http://www.transmagclinic.com

6. Magnetic therapy works where pills fail in major depression
Anusha Namboodiri is another case in point.
The 42-year-old was in between jobs, managing
a household and children as a single parent
because her husband worked in Dubai. "I would
start crying for the slightest reason," she said. It
was when she started harbouring suicidal
thoughts that she was brought to Trans Mag
clinic. "Within a couple of her 15-session
schedule, a positive change was noticeable. She
is now happy at her new job and reads for
hours," said Sonawalla.
Reference By Shamsah B Sonawalla
See More - http://www.transmagclinic.com

7. Thank You…...
(Dr Shamsah B Sonawalla is a consultant psychiatrist ,
a former faculty of Harvard Medical School, US)
www.transmagclinic.com